March 12, 2014 | Morning Headlines.

Main Story

Somali President set to meet Japanese King

11 Mar – Source: Hiiraan Online – 130 words

Somali President Hassan Sheik Mahmoud has arrived in Tokyo for talks with Japanese leaders on the strengthening of the bilateral relations between the two states. The president will also ask the Japanese government to increase its assistance to the country, a presidential statement said on Tuesday. The statement said that President Hassan’s delegation was warmly received at Tokyo international airport by Japanese government officials and Somali ambassador in Tokyo. “President Hassan is scheduled to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Mr. Shinzo Abe and they will talk about the bilateral relations between the two countries. The president Will ask Japan to help Somalia in the sectors of fisheries and agricultural development and as well as trainings for Somali professionals” carried the presidential statement of which HOL obtained a copy on Tuesday.

Key Headlines

Prime Minister: “Following liberation of key towns from al Shabaab efforts must now turn to stabilisation” (Office of the Prime Minister)
Somali President set to meet Japanese King (Hiiraan Online)
Somalia’s efforts to build cohesive State require international support Security Council told (UN News Center)
Al-Shabaab base in Gedo region attacked (Radio Shabelle)
Puntland bans illegal fishing warns foreign vessels (Raxanreeb)
Somalia: Popular Somali singer dies at 69 (Garowe Online)
Offensive in Somalia sees militants flee 5 town (Al Shahid)
Somali community mourns death of infant in Utica fire (AP)

PRESS STATEMENT

Prime Minister: “Following liberation of key towns from al Shabaab efforts must now turn to stabilisation”

11 Mar – Source: Office of the Prime Minister – 499 words

His Excellency Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed, today hosted a meeting attended by Special Representatives and Ambassadors from the UN, EU, UK, Turkey, Ethiopia, UAE, Italy and the USA to update them on the ongoing offensive against al Shabaab and urge them to do all they can to support the stabilisation efforts in newly liberated areas.

The Prime Minister alongside the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Minister of Interior briefed the meeting on the successful liberation of the four key strategic towns of Rabdhure, Hudur, Wajid & Buudhubow from al Shabaab.

Prime Minister Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed, said: “the SNA alongside AMISOM have secured four key strategic towns in what is a major defeat and decisive blow against al Shabaab. Security operations are ongoing to clear mines and IEDs left by al Shabaab and provide reassurance to the local population creating a safe environment for local people to return to.

“Following the military success efforts must now turn to stabilisation in these towns. Al Shabaab have inflicted untold damage on both the local people but also the physical infrastructure of these liberated towns, destroying police stations, clinics, water points and schools. Due to the neglect inflicted by Al-Shabaab on the local population we are now facing a humanitarian crisis within these towns, with food aid specifically needed.

“The government is responding quickly as new towns and land is liberated from al Shabaab. The Ministry of Interior is ready to assist and roll out programs to support security and local administration.

The Ministry of Defence is providing ongoing security and reassurance to the local population and also providing security and logistical support to deliver food aid to the liberated towns. The government has deployed a Deputy Minister alongside a number of religious scholars to each of the four towns to oversee and co-ordinate the government’s stabilisation efforts.

“Al Shabaab should be in no doubt there is no safe haven for them in Somalia and military operations will continue until they are destroyed.” Addressing the representatives from the international community the Prime Minister thanked them for their support but warned of the humanitarian crisis in these towns and the need to co-ordinate stabilisation support.

International partners pledged to work alongside the government in delivering aid and stabilisation programs as well as what extra support could be delivered, the Turkish Ambassador announced that direct budgetary support to Somalia would restart shortly.

“We must now work together to quickly support the local people with both immediate humanitarian aid and also in delivery of basic public services. In the long-term help is needed to rebuild the physical infrastructure so badly damaged by 23 years of war.

“I thank the international community for your support so far in the fight against al Shabaab and stabilisation of Somalia. It is essential we continue to work together to co-ordinate delivery of aid and services in these newly liberated towns. I hope donors will honour their pledges to support the people of Somalia at this key time in the battle against al Shabaab. ” the Prime Minister said.

SOMALI MEDIA

Somali President set to meet Japanese King

11 Mar – Source: Hiiraan Online – 130 words

Al-Shabaab base in Gedo region attacked

11 Mar – Source: Radio Shabelle – 89 words

Report says soldiers from the Somali Federal Government and the Kenyan Defence Forces under AMISOM attacked a base belonging to Al-Shabaab in Taraakoo, approximately 55 km east of Bardhere, Gedo region. It was also said that almost 10 battlewagons specifically designed to carry heavy weapons left the Somali military base in Faafaxdhuun and headed towards Taraakoo. No-one has reported any casualties during the attack against al Shabaab in Taraakoo of the Gedo region.

Puntland bans illegal fishing, warns foreign vessels

11 Mar – Source: Raxanreeb – 119 words

The Puntland state of Somalia Tuesday officially banned any kind of illegal fishing and issued a strict warning to the foreign vessels coming into its northeastern waters. In a statement released today, the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources of Puntland said it has terminated all fishing licenses previously granted to the foreign vessels while the ministry also warned of any claims of holding legal license. “Starting from today on 11th March 2014, The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources terminated issuing fishing licenses to the all foreign and Somali-owned vessels.” the Ministry’s statement said. The ban is excluded from the local fishing community in the coastal towns of Puntland, according to the statement seen by Raxanreeb Online.

Somalia: Popular Somali singer dies at 69

11 Mar – Source: Garowe Online – 77 words

Mohamed Saleban Tubec, a popular Somali singer and the king of melody died of pneumonia complications at Barmherzige Bruder hospital in Germany according to his relatives on Tuesday morning, Garowe Online reports. His son Mustafe Mohamed Saleban said, late Tubec underwent two surgical treatments although the signs of the illness had been persisting over the last year. Singer Tubec garnered huge support and thousands of fans for his lyrics and stage performances for the past thirty years.

Somaliland president embarks on trip to Borama

11 Mar – Source: Somaliland Informer – 106 words

Mr. Ahmed Mohamed Mohamud Silanyo, Somaliland president has left for Borama, the regional capital of Awdal on Tuesday morning where the head of state has officially opened the Dilla- Borama road which was implemented by ASARDA an organization established for the development of Roads. SARDA has received a help from the government of Somaliland to achieve the completion of the road that links Dilla to Borama. The president is accompanied in his trip to Awdal by members of his cabinet and Manager of the Road Authority. Once the president finishes the task of laying foundation stones of new development projects and officially opening other development projects.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Offensive in Somalia sees militants flee 5 town

11 Mar – Source: Al Shahid – 140 words

Columns of African Union and Somali troops are moving deeper into land controlled by al Qaeda-linked militants, forcing fighters to flee from five towns in quick succession in a further squeezing of al Shabaab’s strongholds. Al Shabab has put up little resistance as the AU and Somali troops surged toward their strongholds over the last several days. Towns in the interior of Somalia with little relevance to the outside world — Rabdhure, Ted, Hudur, Wajid and Buudhubow — are now in the nominal control of Somalia’s Mogadishu-based government, a further step of success following al-Shabab’s ouster from Mogadishu in 2011. “This current operation is against extremists and will continue until we recapture all territory,” Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said in a statement Monday. “We want to give back to the long-suffering Somali people an environment conducive to good governance and public services.”

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Somalia’s efforts to build cohesive State require international support, Security Council told

11 Mar – Source: UN News Center – 150 words

The best hope for peace and stability in Somalia, the Horn of Africa and beyond remains a united, secure and federal Somalia, the top United Nations official in the country told the Security Council today, warning that after a series of attacks against high-profile targets in Mogadishu, insecurity in the capital city poses challenges for Somalis and their international partners. “2014 is a crucial year… marked by security and political challenges, which will be overcome if the Federal Government of Somalia and international partners remain united and if both accelerate delivery of their mutual commitments,” Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Nicholas Kay, told the 15-member Council via video conference from Mogadishu, urging continued support from donors and other stockholders. “Progress in Somalia has been mixed so far, but it is progress,” he added. “National reconciliation, federalism, the conclusion of the constitutional process and the rebuilding of security institutions are critical.”

Somali community mourns death of infant in Utica fire

11 Mar – Source: AP – 114 words

Authorities say the 6-month-old baby who died in an apartment fire last weekend was the daughter of parents who emigrated from Africa. The Observer-Dispatch of Utica reports Marian Omar was buried Monday in the cemetery owned by the Bosnian Islamic Association of Utica. Fire officials say the girl died Sunday when a blaze broke out late Sunday morning at her family’s second-floor apartment in Utica. Her parents and four siblings escaped the flames. The girl’s parents are from Somalia. Relatives and members of Somali-Bantu communities from as far away as St. Louis drove to Utica to attend the funeral and help the family through the ordeal. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS

“Mohamed’s story is firmly, unabashedly, rooted in its Somali context, peppered with Somali words and names. She provides a rare, personal look at the country famous for going more than two decades without a central government. Though it is easy for the international community to write off Somalia as a failed state or a nightmare scenario no one wants to think about, Mohamed shows readers the human side to the story, and in doing so makes it impossible to look away.”

‘The Orchard of Lost Souls’ Gives Us a Human Look At Somalia On the Verge of Total Collapse

11 Mar- Source: Bustle-460 Words

Nadifa Mohamed’s new novel The Orchard of Lost Souls is a haunting look at a nightmarish chapter of world history. The story takes place in Mohamed’s native Somalia as the country teeters on the brink of rebellion, and it paints an unforgettable portrait of the conflict through the eyes of three women. It’s a tale full of empathy and insight that is an absolute must-read. The story starts on the day of a major speech in the city of Hargeisa when the lives of three women intersect on a day that changes each of them forever. Nine-year-old Deqo has come to the city from the local refugee camp for the first time for a children’s dance performance as part of the day’s festivities. When she promptly forgets all the steps and is hauled away by the violent neighborhood watch group, a widow in her mid-50s, Kawsar, steps into help. Kawsar is promptly arrested for threatening the neighborhood watch by a female soldier, Filsan, who is herself reeling from a truly awful day of personal humiliation and professional set backs.